Surely St. Cedd’s story is one of faith and expansion. St. Cedd was an Anglo-Saxon monk and bishop from Northumbria. He significantly impacted the Church in England. He is honored in the Catholic Church and Anglicanism.
St. Cedd was born around 620 AD. He was raised on Lindisfarne by Aidan of the Irish Church. Cedd had three brothers. All four became priests. Cedd and Chad both became bishops. The names of the brothers were British Celtic in origin. By 653, Cedd was a priest.
Aidan brought Celtic Rite practices from Iona. These differed from those on the European continent. Their church organization was different. It centered on monasteries. These supported traveling missionary bishops. Aidan was known for his austerity. Cedd and Chad followed his example.
In 653, Oswiu of Northumberland sent Cedd to evangelize the Middle Angles. Peada of Mercia wanted to become Christian. He wanted to marry Oswiu’s daughter. Cedd and three other priests went to Middle Anglia. They converted many people. Penda did not stop the preaching. However, the mission did not make much progress.
Oswiu recalled Cedd. He sent him to the East Saxon kingdom with another priest. Sigeberht the Good requested priests to reconvert his people. Missionaries from Canterbury had originally converted the East Saxons. The first bishop was Mellitus. He arrived in Essex in 604. After ten years, he was driven out.
Sigeberht’s decision to reconvert his kingdom came from Oswiu. Sigeberht was baptized by Bishop Finan of Lindisfarne. Cedd went to the East Saxons. This was partly as an emissary of Northumbria. Conversions followed. Cedd returned to Lindisfarne to report to Finan. Finan ordained him bishop. Cedd was appointed bishop of the East Saxons. He is listed among the bishops of London.
St. Cedd demanded commitment. He confronted the powerful. He excommunicated a thegn in an unlawful marriage. He forbade Christians from offering hospitality. Sigeberht visited the man’s home. Cedd denounced the king and foretold his death. The king was murdered in 660. Bede said this was his penance.
After Sigeberht’s death, Cedd faced a precarious position. The new king, Swithhelm, was a pagan. Ethelwald of East Anglia persuaded Swithelm to accept baptism from Cedd. Cedd baptized the king at Ethelwald’s home. For a time, the East Saxon kingdom remained Christian. Cedd’s work was crucial in converting the East Saxons.
St. Cedd founded many churches. He founded monasteries at Tilaburg and Ithancester. Cedd became abbot of Lastingham in Northumbria. King Aethelwald of Deira made the request. Caelin, Cedd’s brother, was on the king’s staff. Cedd fasted for 40 days to purify the site. Cynibil took over the fast.
St. Cedd held his position as abbot until his death. He was a missionary bishop and diplomat. Cedd delegated care of Lastingham to other priests.
St. Cedd had been raised in the Celtic Rite. This differed from the Roman Rite. Supporters of each rite met at the Synod of Whitby. Cedd interpreted for both sides. His language skills made him a key figure. After the council, Cedd accepted the Roman dating of Easter.
Shortly after, Cedd returned to Lastingham. He fell ill with the plague. He died on October 26, 664. Thirty monks from Essex traveled to Lastingham. They all died of the plague, except a small boy. Cedd was buried at Lastingham. Later, his body was moved into a shrine inside the church. Chad succeeded his brother as abbot.
St. Cedd is commemorated on October 26. It is also known as Essex Day. In 1954, the Diocese of Chelmsford celebrated the 13th centenary of Cedd’s mission to Essex.
His legacy lives on.